South Africa set England 376 to win: first Test, day three – as it happened

Rory Burns’ superb 77 not out took England to 121 for one at the close - and gave them an outside chance of another miraculous run-chase

3.49pm GMT

Related: Rory Burns rumbles South Africa to keep England’s first Test hopes alive

3.49pm GMT

That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Vic Marks’ match report from Centurion. Please join us in the morning for what should be England’s final day of cricket in 2019. It’s been such a crazy year that a tied Test would be the only sensible result. You have Super Overs in Test cricket, right?

3.46pm GMT

Here’s Graham Thorpe, England’s batting coach

“It hasn’t been a straightforward Test match. We’ve had players coming and going with illness. We were pleased to show character and get through to the close tonight. We’d have taken this position if you’d offered it to us this morning.

3.34pm GMT

Joe Denly applauds Rory Burns off the field. They are two admirable characters, so resourceful and courageous. Burns played expertly for his 77 not out, and was ruthless at putting away the bad balls. With every match, he looks more like England’s next Test captain.

3.32pm GMT

41st over: England 121-1 (Burns 77, Denly 10) So nearly a wicket in the last over of the day! Burns edged Maharaj this far short of Elgar, plunging to his left at first slip. Burns survives and will resume tomorrow needing 23 more for a third Test century. More importantly, England need 255 more runs for a miraculous victory. It’s a slim chance, but that’s more than they had this morning.

3.28pm GMT

40th over: England 118-1 (Burns 74, Denly 10) Denly gets his first boundary, guiding a loose ball from Pretorius through backward point. I still think it’s too early to get excited about a possible England win, but they have batted splendidly tonight.

3.24pm GMT

39th over: England 114-1 (Burns 74, Denly 6) Maharaj has switched ends, in fact, to replace Philander. Burns sees him off. There should be time for two more overs.

Meanwhile, well done everyone.

Related: Government exposes addresses of new year honours recipients

3.20pm GMT

38th over: England 112-1 (Burns 72, Denly 6) Pretorius replaces Maharaj, who bowled a crafty spell of 8-3-11-1. England look like they have shut up shop for the night, Denly in particular, and there is just one run from the over.

3.16pm GMT

37th over: England 111-1 (Burns 71, Denly 6) A clever move from South Africa. The keeper de Kock moves up to the stumps, which means Denly has to go back into his crease to face Philander. He is beaten by the first ball under the new terms of battle before working a couple off the pads. England are 265 runs away from a bizarre and brilliant victory.

3.11pm GMT

36th over: England 109-1 (Burns 71, Denly 4) A long hop from Maharaj is pulled vigorously for four by Burns. Maharaj responds with two good deliveries that beat the bat and hit Burns on the body. Good contest, this.

3.09pm GMT

35th over: England 105-1 (Burns 67, Denly 4) Joe Denly has started watchfully, as is his wont, and has four for 21 balls at the end of that Philander over.

“Forget Root,” says Sam Cooper. “Forget Stokes. Forget Buttler. Is Burns the most important England batsman? Seems whenever he starts well the team does well behind him.”

3.03pm GMT

34th over: England 102-1 (Burns 66, Denly 2) Maharaj is causing plenty of problems. Burns, out of his crease, misses an attempted work to leg and is grateful that the ball deflects off his pad and wide of de Kock. England have another 26 minutes to survive.

3.00pm GMT

33rd over: England 101-1 (Burns 65, Denly 2) Philander seams another glorious delivery past Burns’ outside edge. His accuracy is almost comical.

2.56pm GMT

32nd over: England 100-1 (Burns 64, Denly 2) A maiden from Maharaj to Denly. It looks like Ben Stokes is the next man in, with Joe Root unwell, though I’d imagine England will use a nightwatchman if a wicket falls in the last 15-20 minutes of the day’s play.

2.53pm GMT

31st over: England 100-1 (Burns 64, Denly 2) Philander returns to the attack and has an optimistic LBW appeal against Denly turned down off his first ball. Far too high. Denly is batting outside his crease to Philander, as he did in the first innings, and works a single to bring up the England hundred.

2.49pm GMT

30th over: England 99-1 (Burns 64, Denly 1) Maharaj gets one to rip sharply at Burns, who inside-edges it onto the body. The mood has changed since the wicket of Sibley, and England could lose one or two more in the 40 minutes before the close.

2.46pm GMT

29th over: England 98-1 (Burns 64, Denly 0) Four more to Burns, nailed through the covers off Rabada. He is playing quite superbly.

2.43pm GMT

28th over: England 92-1 (Burns 58, Denly 0) Sibley swished his bat in disgust when he was dismissed. It was a nothing shot to a poor ball. But he played well, making 29 from 90 balls, and should feel more comfortable in Test cricket than he did three hours ago.

2.41pm GMT

Ach, Sibley has fallen to the left-arm spinner. He pushed a short delivery straight back at Maharaj, who took the return catch with glee. I don’t know whether that stopped in the pitch because it looked a very harmless delivery.

2.38pm GMT

27th over: England 91-0 (Burns 57, Sibley 29) Sibley, who is playing confidently now, forces Rabada behind square on the off side for four. This has been an admirable performance from a young man trying to forge a Test career.

Here’s John Beaven. “As Bertie said, ‘Jeeves, of course, is a gentleman’s gentleman, not a butler, but if the call comes, he can buttle with the best of them.’”

2.34pm GMT

26th over: England 86-0 (Burns 56, Sibley 25) Sibley flicks Maharaj through midwicket for four. He had trouble with Mitchell Santner in New Zealand, which is probably why Maharaj has been brought on. The decision almost pays off for South Africa when Sibley, defending on the front foot, inside-edges the ball into his balls. That could have gone anywhere.

2.31pm GMT

25th over: England 82-0 (Burns 56, Sibley 21) Rabada walks away in disgust at his misfortune after beating Burns with another fine lifter.

2.27pm GMT

24th over: England 80-0 (Burns 54, Sibley 21) There’s a hint of turn for Maharaj, who bowls another accurate maiden to the happily becalmed Sibley.

“There is a common misconception, which the link to fish being brain food shared, that Jeeves was a butler,” says Peter Dymoke. “He was a valet or gentleman’s personal gentleman. The two are quite different. Yours pedantically.”

2.24pm GMT

23rd over: England 80-0 (Burns 54, Sibley 21) There’s an hour and ten minutes of play remaining. Burns forces Rabada through backward point for four to reach an extremely good half-century from only 62 balls. He’s such a smart, resourceful batsman. He adds four more with a confident extra-cover drive before Rabada produces a beauty to beat the outside edge.

Since the start of the Ashes - when he was probably one bad game away from being dropped - Burns averages 46 in Tests. And most of those runs have come against brilliant attacks on lively pitches.

2.19pm GMT

22nd over: England 72-0 (Burns 46, Sibley 21) The left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj comes into the attack and starts with a maiden to Sibley. That’s drinks.

“As you rightly say, we’re not in the dressing room, so everything is based on (mediated) impressions,” says Brian Withington. “Just between us, I am guessing that Bairstow might have felt somewhat aggrieved by the immediate media clamour for Foakes to be awarded the gloves in perpetuity after just one game (after anklegate). By way of context, Bairstow could perhaps claim that he was denied a regular slot in the Test and one-day teams for far too long due to the extended retention of favoured sons. Two wrongs don’t make a right of course, and I would rather he went away for a bit and worked on his red ball batting. But Buttler keeping in Tests!! Bad enough that he inexplicably gets the gig in the one day team, but surely Foakes must get the call for red ball. If there is anyone who should just focus on his batting it is surely Jos.”

2.14pm GMT

21st over: England 72-0 (Burns 46, Sibley 21) If England win this, thanks to an unbeaten 145 from Jonny Bairstow, I am going to look an appreciable plonker. I still think South Africa will win comfortably - they have another 305 runs to play with - but it’s been an uplifting display of determination and commonsense from Burns and Sibley.

Out of nothing, Rabada produces a vicious lifter that hits Burns on the glove and loops to safety on the off side. That must have hit a crack.

2.10pm GMT

20th over: England 68-0 (Burns 42, Sibley 21) South Africa have started bowling where Sibley wants. He times Pretorius sweetly through midwicket for four more. Having made six from his first 40 balls, Sibley has scored 15 from the last 26. Textbook stuff.

“I’m sure I read a tweet lately that demonstrated that Bairstow had a ludicrously good first class record in county cricket since making his first class debut and, arguably, earns his opportunity through repeatedly going back to the shires and delivering the goods to a greater extent than other English-qualified batsmen,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “He seems to me like a team man who will do anything he can to tenaciously cling onto his place in the team and deliver: he’ll bat wherever he’s asked to (although he brings the same technique and style) and has delivered in the past. I feel sorry for the chap: he’s always being dumped for Buttler who seems to still be getting picked on potential rather than results - a bit like a steady and reliable boy-next-door who keeps on getting dumped and passed over for the flash bad boy who owns their own Vauxhall Nova.”

2.05pm GMT

19th over: England 63-0 (Burns 42, Sibley 17) Rabada returns to the attack. South Africa won’t be worried just yet, though they will hope the pitch is more malignant tomorrow. They are starting to lose a little patience, and when Rabada is too straight Sibley helps himself to a boundary off the hip. In the circumstances, both personal and collective, Sibley’s ability to stick to his gameplan has been pretty impressive.

2.02pm GMT

18th over: England 58-0 (Burns 41, Sibley 13) “Fish: the science bit,” says Kim Thonger. “Useful link for coaches. Remember, if Jeeves says it, it MUST be true.”

I thought you meant you’d been using Ask Jeeves. I was about to upbraid you for thinking it was still 1998, never mind 2016.

1.57pm GMT

17th over: England 56-0 (Burns 41, Sibley 11) Sibley hasn’t scored many runs in his short Test career but he has at least hinted at his ability to bat time. This is his fifth Test innings and he has now faced 211 balls for his 53 runs. England are desperate for an old-fashioned opener who can consistently see off the new ball.

Burns is much more proactive, as a rule, and he moves into the forties with another efficient clip through midwicket for four off Nortje. The more comfortable he looks at Test level, the more likely it is that he will be England’s next Test captain.

1.52pm GMT

16th over: England 51-0 (Burns 37, Sibley 10) Burns is beaten, chasing a wide one from Pretorius. Nothing else to see here.

1.50pm GMT

15th over: England 51-0 (Burns 37, Sibley 10) “Hi Rob,” says Daniel McDonald, before proceeding to matters of greater import.

If Burns is burned and Sibley is sickly,
and Denly is deathly and Root is rooted,

and Stokes is stoked but not like Lord’s and Leeds,
and Bairstow can only play as straight as [redacted],

1.46pm GMT

14th over: England 50-0 (Burns 36, Sibley 10) Dwaine Pretorius replaces Vernon Philander, who bowled a classy opening spell of 6-2-13-0. Burns works a single to bring up a determined fifty partnership with his old Surrey mate Dom Sibley. That’s their second in three Tests together.

“I’m scratching my head here trying to figure out exactly how Jonny Bairstow became the poster boy for everything that’s wrong with the Test team?” says Brian Withington. “When did caring so much about playing for England and working like a dog to improve your game become the focus of our opprobrium? My impression from afar is that the guy has none of the Gerrard-Lampard axis of entitlement, which is perhaps why he was so desperate to keep the gloves, regardless of where he was shunted around the batting order. Reminds me more of Paul Scholes than the other pair, except I somehow doubt he will throw in the towel. Joe Cole with attitude, perhaps - he would have offered to take the gloves play in goal in order to get in the England team.”

1.39pm GMT

13th over: England 49-0 (Burns 35, Sibley 10) The pitch has been relatively placid today, as if sleeping off the excesses of day two. Sibley is still playing and missing once an over, mind you, and he obliges from Nortje’s fifth delivery. The follow-up ball is too short, too straight, and Sibley works it to fine leg for his fourth boundary. For all his technical eccentricity, there is plenty to admire in Sibley’s temperament.

1.34pm GMT

12th over: England 44-0 (Burns 34, Sibley 6) Philander continues to toy with Sibley, varying his line between fourth and sixth stump. Sibley, beaten again early in the over, eventually decides to play outside off stump - he scythes the last ball through the covers for two.

1.29pm GMT

11th over: England 40-0 (Burns 33, Sibley 3) Too straight from Nortje, and Burns fizzes him through midwicket for four. Excellent shot. Nortje moves around the wicket as a result - but he strays onto the pads a second time and Burns clips another boundary through midwicket.

Burns is never going to change the world but he is such an impressive, pragmatic batsman.

1.25pm GMT

10th over: England 32-0 (Burns 25, Sibley 3) Oof, Burns is dropped by van der Dussen! He edged a stunning delivery from Philander to the right of first slip, where van der Dussen put down a tricky low chance. He may have been put off by de Kock diving across in front of him, though I suspect he’d take that seven times out of 10. This time the ball went through and ran away for four runs.

“I think England need to bed in and build a solid base from which to hopefully expand and express themselves tomorrow,” says Shane Kirk. “Not only because it’ll be good for the morale of the side, but mainly because we don’t have Sky and we’re not due at the in-laws (who do) until much later this afternoon.”

1.20pm GMT

9th over: England 27-0 (Burns 20, Sibley 3) South Africa have given Sibley nothing that he can work into the leg side. That shouldn’t bother him, such is his patience, although the highest level can do funny things to the brain. All evidence from county cricket suggests Sibley won’t care if he finishes today on 7 not out from 117 balls. At the moment, after a maiden from Nortje, he has 3 from 28.

“Afternoon Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “I’ve become convinced that the England batting unit’s problem is mainly dietary. Could you use your global fame and influence to persuade Waitrose (as a sponsor) to put their Sushi Daily counters in ALL their branches. Here in Northamptonshire, a sushi wasteland, our young people are deprived of healthy and nutritious raw fish and my instinct tells me it’s holding back their development, particularly in respect of maintaining concentration when the balls are nipping back a bit outside the off stump. Would probably also help apprentice pacemen (and women) improve their length and line.”

1.16pm GMT

8th over: England 27-0 (Burns 20, Sibley 3) Burns looks custom-made for a wicket-to-wicket bowler like Philander, given the way he skitters across the crease, but so far he has managed to get a bat on everything straight. Another interrogative over from Philander ends with a peach that just misses Burns’ outside edge.

1.11pm GMT

7th over: England 27-0 (Burns 20, Sibley 3) Anrich Nortje replaces Kagiso Rabada, who bowled three expensive overs before tea, and zips a lovely delivery past Sibley’s outside edge. He’s struggling to survive, but he has enough experience to know things will get much easier if he can get past the new ball.

1.07pm GMT

6th over: England 26-0 (Burns 19, Sibley 3) England run on a misfield and live to tell the tale, with Burns home before Nortje’s throw hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Sibley is then beaten on the inside by Philander, who is having sadistic fun of the cat/mouse variety.

“What do England need to do to rescue some respectability from a pretty shambolic start to the tour?” says Gary Naylor. “I feel that if they can make the highest innings of the match, they’ll have something to work with, but another collapse takes us into McGrathian territory. Happy New Year... but probably not.”

12.57pm GMT

“Would it have helped if England had spent more time in South Africa preparing for this series and not gone to New Zealand?” says Paul McIntyre. “Everyone seems to agree the schedule is too busy but no one in the England set-up seems accountable for signing up to it.”

That a different issue, I think. Interviews with Ashley Giles, the newish ECB Managing Director, suggest he is acutely aware of the problem, but it’s not easy to resolve. Cricket (and most other sports) has sold so much of its soul in the last 20-30 years that it will be hard to make significant changes. It’s all pretty miserable.

12.45pm GMT

“You wrote that Pope will play the second Test ‘if he can dislodge Bairstow,’” says Andrew Hurley. “Wouldn’t he just need to throw something straight at him? (Sorry!)”

That made me laugh more than I expected. It took me by surprise. Like a full delivery at my off stump, honk.

12.42pm GMT

5th over: England 24-0 (Burns 18, Sibley 2) Burns, reaching well wide of off stump, edges Rabada along the ground for four. It looks like he has decided to get as many as he can before the pitch gets him, and he goes to tea having made 18 from 18 balls. England need a further 352 runs to complete a hat-trick of miracles in 2019.

“Following a few football results over the last couple of evenings, I’m still on a sporting high, so not quite at the ‘praying for rain’ stage yet (with those famously wet SA summers, and all),” says Matt Dony. “I am, however, about to spend an afternoon with no mobile signal (yay for West Wales!), so not too sure what I’ll come back to. A couple of big scores, and a good, hard look at themselves before the next Test would be nice. See what you can do, Rob.”

12.38pm GMT

4th over: England 18-0 (Burns 12, Sibley 2) Philander makes a lone enquiry for caught behind - as much to his team-mates as the umpire - when Sibley is beaten outside off stump. It missed the bottom edge of the bat. Sibley is beaten again later in the over, this time by a gorgeous delivery.

Whatever happens in this innings, I hope Sibley is given at least the rest of this series, and probably the Sri Lanka Tests as well. There are concerns about his technique, that much is true. But it would be scandalous to drop him after three Tests, particularly in view of the chances given to more experienced players.

12.34pm GMT

3rd over: England 18-0 (Burns 12, Sibley 2) Burns drives Rabada handsomely through mid-off for four, and England get some bonus runs when a short ball clears de Kock and runs away for four byes.

“I’ve suddenly become engrossed in a hardbound 2019 Wisden which was lying untouched,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Kohli was the Cricketer of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. Who do you think will take the honour this time around? Surely, Ben Stokes?”

12.32pm GMT

2nd over: England 8-0 (Burns 6, Sibley 2) Sibley is the first man to be tied up in the chair and interrogated by Philander. He gets off the mark with a clip for two and survives the over without alarm.

“We’ve been here many times, Rob,” says Guy Hornsby. “Too many of them recently. I agree we can’t keep trying to shoehorn the big names in just so no one’s upset. The difference with the Gerrard-Lampard epoch is that we had a great core of players to pick from but stuffed it up. Here we have a mix of brilliant, good, could be legendary and not really sure but by persisting with this rigid must-pick XI, we scupper it for everyone. Right now though, I’d just like us to put up a fight, but this has 145 all out written all over it. Penny for Chris Silverwood’s thoughts. At least Pope should be ok for the next Test.”

12.26pm GMT

1st over: England 6-0 (Burns 6, Sibley 0) Rabada opens the bowling at the Sacrifical Pom End. Burns edges the first ball of the innings along the ground for four. He is then given out LBW, but successfully reviews. It looked a poor decision from Chris Gaffaney and replays confirmed the ball would have missed off stump. It didn’t quite come back enough, though it was a beautiful delivery.

Here’s Ian Andrew on the subject of England’s retch-tastic second Test in India in 1963-64. “When Jimmy Binks was asked to open the England second innings, his comment was apparently, ‘Wait till Freddie Trueman hears about this!’”

12.19pm GMT

The first task for the England openers is to negotiate a miserable 20-minute mini-session before tea. Dom Sibley, in particular, could really do with a score. A dogged 30 or 40 would do him the world of good.

12.16pm GMT

This is on BT Sport tonight. I’ve seen a preview and can unequivocally recommend it. (Full disclosure: I know the director, but despite his involvement it is fantastic.)

"We were striking a blow against the very foundations of apartheid."

50 years ago, a protest movement changed sport in South Africa and helped bring down a racist regime.#StopTheTour tells the details of a remarkable story.

Friday, 10pm | BT Sport 1 HD pic.twitter.com/SnjytBfCEF

12.11pm GMT

The stand-in keeper Bairstow takes a spectacular leaping catch to dismiss Philander and end England’s suffering, at least for the next 10 minutes. England need 376 to win. No.

12.06pm GMT

61st over: South Africa 264-9 (Philander 45, Rabada 9) On Sky Sports, Ian Ward has just referred to “England’s powerful middle order”. I wish everyone would realise it’s no longer 2016. It’s 2019, almost 2020, and KG Rabada has just clouted Archer over cover for four more. That brings up Archer’s hundred. For someone so economical, his figures are most peculiar: 17-1-102-5.

12.01pm GMT

60th over: South Africa 258-9 (Philander 44, Rabada 5) Philander loves batting against England. He averages 41 in Tests, easily his highest, and made important runs in victories at Lord’s (2012), Trent Bridge (2017) and Centurion (2019).

Rabada, meanwhile, gets off the mark with an elegant cover drive for four off Curran. South Africa lead by 360. That’s fine, because England have a lot of 360 batsmen. Right? RIGHT?

11.57am GMT

59th over: South Africa 251-9 (Philander 42, Rabada 0) Tum20 Blast is the subject of James Debens’ email. “These aren’t the runs, big heaves and Trotts I was praying for! *waggles cigar* Try the veal (substitute).”

11.55am GMT

Jofra Archer completes a peculiar five-for when Maharaj top-edges a smear to fine leg. There is no real celebration from Archer, unsurprisingly given the match situation and the fact he’s going at more than six an over.

11.51am GMT

58th over: South Africa 247-8 (Philander 39, Maharaj 10) The collective sickness has made this a very difficult match for England. It’s only a partial reason for the result, however, and I hope they don’t overplay it. This England Test team are very good - the best in the world, probably - at rationalising defeat and explaining why it will be different next time.

11.47am GMT

Thanks John, morning everyone. We all know how this ends; the only question is whether it will do so today or tomorrow.

11.46am GMT

And that’s drinks – South Africa lead by 345 and England are in survival mode. So it’s a perfect time for me to pass you over to the estimable Rob Smyth, who’ll take you through the rest of the day.

11.45am GMT

57th over: South Africa 242-8 (Philander 34, Maharaj 10) Maharaj, who seems to be enjoying himself, edges Archer through the (empty) slips for a single. Philander pushes down the ground for another. Maharaj skews a hook away safely for another. Philander clips off the hop for another.

11.40am GMT

56th over: South Africa 238-8 (Philander 32, Maharaj 8) Curran returns to the fray. Maharaj bends his front leg and lofts him over the covers for four! Fine shot that.

Another Curran is having an interesting time over in Australia:

Scenes! Incredible from Curran, who hits 15 from the final over but is run-out going for the match-winning run. Scores level! #BBL09

Super Over time: https://t.co/XA50ZJcGkp https://t.co/qjyqK7AKf0

11.36am GMT

55th over: South Africa 231-8 (Philander 31, Maharaj 3) Jofra Archer returns in the hope of picking up his third five-fer in 12 Test innings. Philander, after a biiig swing-and-miss, is able to dink him away to leg for a couple. The South Africa batsman actually dealt with that over very well despite that rather optimistic heave early on.

11.31am GMT

54th over: South Africa 226-8 (Philander 26, Maharaj 3) Philander is the latest batsman to take an injury break after fending off a Stokes delivery with his box. Youchy. The score edges up with a couple of singles – the lead is now an imposing 329.

11.28am GMT

53rd over: South Africa 223-8 (Philander 24, Maharaj 2) Maharaj hooks Anderson for a single – six words which say a bit about England’s bowling performance today.

“I am sitting (careful how you spell that!) in my AirBnB in the Centurion area with a ticket for today’s play (and tomorrow’s and all of the Cape Town Test) somewhat indisposed. At both ends!” yelps Neil Waterfield. “Is there any advice coming out of the England camp on how to deal with this bug? The effects of yesterday’s numerous Immodium seem to have Warne off!” If Joe Root is any indication, the best thing to do is to stand in a slip cordon looking like you’ve just got off the waltzers.

11.22am GMT

52nd over: South Africa 221-8 (Philander 23, Maharaj 1) A neat and tidy over from Stokes, who has probably been England’s best bowler so far today.

On the subject of the Sickest Test, here’s Steve Hudson: “I don’t know if this has been mentioned already, and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t, but the second Test between England and India in 1963-4 at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, featured an England side with only two specialist batsmen, three if you include Jim Parks. Two wicket keepers, four pace bowlers and two spinners, plus Mike Smith who was unable to take the field. The 10 players who managed to play throughout the game were the only members of the touring party who were able to.”

11.18am GMT

Oh. Out of nowhere De Kock, who has been pretty much becalmed in the 40 minutes since lunch, pushes forward and feathers an edge through to Bairstow.

11.15am GMT

51st over: South Africa 220-7 (De Kock 34, Philander 23) Anderson doesn’t look a particularly happy bunny out there – he’s struggled to ask many questions of this pair.

This may explain the presence of a very peaky Joe Root:

Root is back. ECB say he has to be on the field for 40 minutes from 1pm for him to bat in the top six.

11.11am GMT

50th over: South Africa 218-7 (De Kock 33, Philander 22) De Kock is OK to carry on after some attention but it looked a painful blow. Stokes is a whisker away from picking up Philander but an inside-edge somehow evades the stumps.

11.04am GMT

49th over: South Africa 216-7 (De Kock 33, Philander 21) Joe Root trots – ahem – back on to the field to prompt much headscratching. The England camp first said he was in quarantine. Then he came back. Then he went off again and word was he was looking pretty bad. Now he’s back once more. So who knows? Perhaps only Root himself it seems.

Anderson continues but De Kock keeps his powder dry. From the last he takes a whack on a finger and needs some treatment.

11.01am GMT

48th over: South Africa 216-7 (De Kock 33, Philander 21) Another wonderful drive from Philander sends the ball whistling down the cover boundary as Stokes overpitches. Much of the criticism of England today has focussed on them bowling too short, which is all well and good, but they’ve bowled poorly whenever they’ve pitched it up too.

10.59am GMT

47th over: South Africa 211-7 (De Kock 32, Philander 17) A few singles off Anderson’s latest. Fact fans will be interested to know that this game in 2000 saw the highest run chase in Centurion. Yes, this one:

Related: Cronje comes clean on life of shame

10.52am GMT

46th over: South Africa 206-7 (De Kock 30, Philander 15) Stokes (3-1-6-1) continues but Philander channels a bit of his batting partner and heaves him away over midwicket for a one-bounce four. Again he pinches the strike off the penultimate ball so De Kock only has the one ball to face and he leaves alone outside off.

A thought from our chief sports writer:

I need a refresher on why Root making 200 on a road in a losing series means he's a good captain now

10.48am GMT

45th over: South Africa 202-7 (De Kock 30, Philander 10) Joe Root has not returned to the field after lunch – England’s batting order could be quite interesting. Anyway Anderson gets the ball after the break. He sends down four tidy dots at Philander but the fifth is in the slot and the South Africa No 9 unfurls a superb cover drive four to bring up the 200. He pinches the strike from the last too.

10.44am GMT

Players back out. Can England polish this off quickly?

10.34am GMT

“Win or lose, this ought to be in the 2010s roundups as England’s Sickest Test Ever,” writes John Starbuck. “Is that right? I suspect there have been others where a bug swept through team, but were quite so many laid up?” Indeed, Joe Root was off the field again as the morning session came to an end.

10.33am GMT

The knives are out for England after that morning session. On Sky there’s been nothing but opprobrium for England’s tactics, while Michael Vaughan has tweeted: “The England Test Team need to admit they have a Test Match Cricket Problem. Only then will it improve ...”

10.05am GMT

So 125 runs and three wickets in a lively session.

10.04am GMT

44th over: South Africa 197-7 (De Kock 30, Philander 5) The last over before lunch here I reckon. Stokes to bowl it. De Kock lofts him over the infield for a single – he moves to 30 from 16 – and Philander blocks one into the on-side for another to make the lead 300. And that’s the way it’ll be at lunch.

9.59am GMT

43rd over: South Africa 195-7 (De Kock 29, Philander 4) Here we go – Archer v De Kock II. The first is banged in short … and heaved away for six! And the second is flat-batted down the ground for four. The third is a short bouncer which is signalled a wide. And Nasser Hussain makes a pertinent point on commentary – even if this ploy works for England now and De Kock spoons up a catch, the damage is pretty much done.

9.55am GMT

42nd over: South Africa 181-7 (De Kock 16, Philander 4) England have just about dragged themselves back into this game with three wickets in 19 balls. But they’re hardly in a position of strength. Philander edges for four as the lead heads towards 300.

9.50am GMT

Stokes gets the ball in his hands for the first time this morning and he has struck! Pretorius edges a full one through to Sibley at slip.

9.48am GMT

41st over: South Africa 177-6 (De Kock 16, Pretorius 7) Four wickets for Archer now. Pretorious gets off the mark with a cracking tip-toed back-foot drive for four. Lovely stuff. He adds two more with a push through the same area. As Pretorius made his way to the crease Stokes and Broad had what appeared to be a very heated discussion in Englan’s huddle. But whatever the disagreement was a fist-bump at the end of the over draws it to a close.

9.43am GMT

Nortje’s vigil comes to an end, Archer finally getting one to flick off bat and pad. Crawley takes a sharp catch at close range.

9.41am GMT

40th over: South Africa 170-5 (Nortje 40, De Kock 16) Broad takes the opposite tack to De Kock, pitching the ball up. That keeps him quiet for a few balls but from the last he flails a glorious cover drive through for four more. Sixteen from 10 so far for De Kock.

9.38am GMT

39th over: South Africa 165-5 (Nortje 39, De Kock 12) To say England needed that is something of an understatement. The wicket brings Quinton de Kock to the crease with the lead at 256. He gets off the mark … with a huge six over backward square leg! Because of course he does. Archer bangs it in short again – De Kock smashes it for six again! What a cricketer Quinton de Kock is. There was a bit more top edge about the second but it still flew into the stands. And in the blink of an eye the lead races to 268 …

9.31am GMT

A slower ball from Archer clonks into the front pad and this time the umpire’s finger goes up. Van der Dussen reviews but it’s clipping leg and he has to go.

9.29am GMT

38th over: South Africa 153-4 (Van der Dussen 51, Nortje 39) Van der Dussen bunts and charges through for a single that brings up his half-century. A terrific knock from the debutant. Nortje is not be far off joining him – he crashes a back-foot drive through the covers for four more, though his technique against the short ball has been cojone-based more than anything.

9.23am GMT

37th over: South Africa 145-4 (Van der Dussen 49, Nortje 34) “May not be in the spirit of the game but if all the English players are this contagious, might one suggest nine men around the bat?” ponders Pete Salmon. To that end (maybe) a very peaky looking Joe Root is unquarantined and back in the slips. Nortje again has to contend with plenty of short stuff, round the wicket from Archer this time.

9.19am GMT

36th over: South Africa 142-4 (Van der Dussen 48, Nortje 32) Five wides from Broad to add to England’s pain. Illness or no, everyone in the England camp will be feeling a little queasy now. Nortje – who has delivered a textbook nightwatchman performance – wears one on the ribcage and has to call for some treatment from the physio. That was a painful one and a sign of a bit of a change of tack from England. Two balls remain after that injury break and from the last Nortje somehow survives after a panicked attempt to fend off another short one drops between three fielders.

9.12am GMT

35th over: South Africa 136-4 (Van der Dussen 47, Nortje 32) Archer continues and has Nortje fending and dodging, successfully as it happens.

“Morning John,” begins Guy Hornsby. Morning Guy. “I know it’s hardly positivity central but we’ve got a night watchman in and we’ve only got two slips and a third man? With the most productive swing bowler in Test history bowling! It all feels a bit negative. Maybe it’s the illness, but the field placings and atmosphere seems pretty flat. This feels like 350 lead and all out for a miserable 160.” It does a bit.

9.04am GMT

34th over: South Africa 133-4 (Van der Dussen 46, Nortje 30) Broad finds Van der Dussen’s edge this time but the ball just fails to carry to a diving Ben Stokes at third slip. It was a very decent effort from England’s current on-field captain but the ball trundles away for four. VDD celebrates with a couple of gorgeous cover drives for a pair of boundaries. South Africa’s lead races up to 236.

9.00am GMT

33rd over: South Africa 120-4 (Van der Dussen 33, Nortje 30) Archer sends one fizzing into Van der Dussen’s pads and review it after the umpire shakes his head. Hawkeye shows the ball clipping leg stump – clipping enough to tear leg stump out of the ground but clipping all the same. Not out. Then a couple of boundaries: an Archer bouncer evades everyone and a very neatly timed Nortje drive.

And even more bad news for England: Joe Root is feeling unwell and has joined the band of nauseous brothers in Quarantine:

8.54am GMT

32nd over: South Africa 109-4 (Van der Dussen 32, Nortje 25) Broad gets through another tidy, uneventful over. A couple of singles come from it.

8.49am GMT

31st over: South Africa 106-4 (Van der Dussen 31, Nortje 24) Jofra Archer comes into the attack for the first time this morning. Nortje flaps awkwardly at a short one but can’t make contact. From the last ball of the over there’s another run-out chance but Denly can’t hit the stumps from point.

8.44am GMT

30th over: South Africa 104-4 (Van der Dussen 30, Nortje 23) The first bowling change of the morning – Stuart Broad comes into the attack. There’s another run-out chance as Nortje sends Van der Dussen back but Zak Crawley, on as a sub fielder, misses his shy at the stumps. Tidy enough from Broad, without being particularly threatening.

8.39am GMT

29th over: South Africa 103-4 (Van der Dussen 30, Nortje 22) Curran continues and Van der Dussen immediately scampers another single. He’s been quite happy to watch most of this morning’s action from the non-striker’s end while Nortje irritates the bowlers at the other end. And to prove the point, the nightwatchman flails a full delivery down to cow corner for four more.

8.35am GMT

28th over: South Africa 97-4 (Van der Dussen 29, Nortje 17) Another edge from Nortje, another boundary down to third man. That takes the lead to 200. Anderson – delighted, of course – has a brief word with Nortje at the non-striker’s end. England need something to happen and they need it soon.

8.31am GMT

27th over: South Africa 92-4 (Van der Dussen 28, Nortje 13) Curran comes round the wicket and discomfits the stubborn Nortje with a couple – there’s a huge appeal after a full one thunders into the back pad but the angle means it’s sliding down. Nortje adds the salt by aiming a drive down the ground and edging wide of slip for the first boundary of the morning.

8.26am GMT

26th over: South Africa 88-4 (Van der Dussen 28, Nortje 9) Van der Dussen clips Anderson to deep midwicket for three as South Africa continue this steady start. They’ve had a couple of scares – the run-out chance and that review by Nortje – but they’re through the first half hour without loss. Anderson beats Nortje all ends up outside off here but the nightwatchman survives again and is able to turn the next to backward square for a single.

8.23am GMT

25th over: South Africa 84-4 (Van der Dussen 25, Nortje 8) And that’s the end of the over.

8.22am GMT

The ball has clearly come off Nortje’s shoulder.

8.22am GMT

Curran gets one to rear at Nortje, who fends outside off and sees the ball fly through to Bairstow. The finger goes up but he reviews immediately.

8.17am GMT

24th over: South Africa 81-4 (Van der Dussen 23, Nortje 7) Van der Dussen takes a bonkers single and would’ve been out by a yard had Sibley hit the stumps after running in from cover. That’s the only notable action from an otherwise tidy enough over from Anderson.

8.13am GMT

23rd over: South Africa 78-4 (Van der Dussen 21, Nortje 6) An uncomfortable moment for Dom Sibley as he slides in the outfield and his knee jams in the soft turf. He’s wincing for the rest of the over but seems otherwise unhurt. Three from the Curran over.

So in the three Tests since Jonny Bairstow was dropped and told to focus on his batting England’s wicketkeepers have been Jos Buttler, Ollie Pope and now err Jonny Bairstow...

8.08am GMT

22nd over: South Africa 75-4 (Van der Dussen 20, Nortje 4) James Anderson (4-0-19-1) at the other end and Van der Dussen tickles away the first runs of the morning, Anderson straying on to his pads. There’s a yelp of an appeal as VDD shoulders arms outside off and is struck on the pad but there wasn’t quite enough movement back in for Anderson there. He’s clearly looking for an lbw against the upright Van der Dussen, who clips another single to leg, playing around his front pad a little. And from the last Nortje hops and prods uncertainly. Some excellent stuff from Anderson there.

8.03am GMT

21st over: South Africa 72-4 (Van der Dussen 17, Nortje 4) Sam Curran gets the honour for England, sending down a couple of wide looseners at Nortje before finding his line just outside off. He has the nightwatchman playing and missing at the last. A maiden.

8.00am GMT

Right, the players are out on the field. Off we go for a(nother) big first hour …

7.35am GMT

A couple of bits of news: Jos Buttler has joined the England sick ward so Bairstow will take the gloves today. And South Africa’s Aiden Markram has broken a finger – he’s out of the series.

7.28am GMT

In other news, Jofra Archer has to be careful today after yesterday’s slightly bizarre moment at the very end of the day:

Related: Jofra Archer walks tightrope after bowling two beamers at nightwatchman

Related: England's cricketers and exceptional women in sport honoured

7.00am GMT

Hello all and welcome to day three of this enthralling Test. It’s all rather nicely poised isn’t it? South Africa lead by 175 with six second-innings wickets remaining. England aren’t quite out of it but will need a flurry of wickets this morning to stay in the game. South Africa, already in the box seat, know that – what? – another 120-odd runs might be all they need. The first few hours today could be spectacular. At least, England will hope they are.

To catch up, here’s Vic Marks on day two:

Related: South Africa take charge of first Test against England as wickets tumble

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